[ mɪ'zɛrɪkɔ:d ]
■ noun
1》 a ledge projecting from the underside of a hinged seat in a choir stall, giving support to someone standing when the seat is folded up.
2》 historical an apartment in a monastery in which some relaxations of discipline were permitted.
3》 historical a small dagger for delivering a death stroke to a wounded enemy.
Origin
ME (denoting pity): from OFr. ~e , from L. ~ia , from misericors 'compassionate', from the stem of misereri 'to pity' + cor , cord- 'heart'.